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Arsene Wenger: Arsenal future lies with youngsters like Jack Wilshere

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal's future lies with the team's young players, such as Jack Wilshere.

Last Updated: 28/11/12 10:34am

Jack Wilshere: Praised by Arsene Wenger among other of Arsenal's young players

Wilshere, who has been at the Gunners since the age of nine, has just returned from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and is thought to be negotiating a contract extension.

And Wenger, while also praising fellow England internationals Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs, is confident the 20-year-old will commit to the club.

"He has two-and-a-half years left - that's quite a long time," said Wenger.

"We have built a team where we have a lot of young English players, or British players like Gibbs, Chamberlain, Wilshere.

"We still have the case of Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey. You want them all on long-term contracts.

"Jack has always been very committed to this club and I hope he will show that. There is only one way to show it and that is to commit your long-term future to the club."

Meanwhile Walcott has yet to commit himself past the end of the season, with Wenger revealing 'unfortunately, I cannot give you any news.'

Arsenal are now benefiting from their home-grown recruitment policy, which Wenger feels will make a strong bond between the developing players and their club.

"If the quality is local, it is of course even better because it gives you more guarantee of stability because the players who are English who play for Arsenal are more likely to stay for a longer term than foreign players, but we look first at quality, that is the most important," he added.

Wenger came in for criticism from some of the travelling support during the goalless draw at Villa Park on Saturday - with chants of "you don't know what you're doing" greeting the second-half substitution of striker Olivier Giroud for defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin.

However, the focus of the French coach remains unmoved.

"My job is to give full commitment to this club, with integrity. That's what I always do without expecting any return," he said.

"I don't want to comment on that [fans]. I just make sure that I do my job properly - that's what I do."